Air-Frying Pork Chops: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can put pork chops in an air fryer! In fact, it's a great way to cook them, as the air fryer's rapid air circulation yields pork chops that are crispy on the outside, yet juicy and tender on the inside.

There are a few different ways to season your pork chops before putting them in the air fryer. One option is to make a rub with brown sugar, paprika, ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Another option is to coat the pork chops in olive oil and dredge them in a mixture of Parmesan, paprika, garlic powder, salt, parsley and pepper. You can also marinate the pork chops in olive oil, coconut aminos or soy sauce, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and pressed garlic cloves.

Once you've seasoned or marinated your pork chops, cook them in the air fryer for around 12-14 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The internal temperature of the pork chops should reach 145°F when they're done.

What type of pork chops are best for the air fryer?

You can definitely put pork chops in an air fryer! But what type of pork chops are best for the air fryer?

The best pork chops for the air fryer are thick, centre-cut, bone-in chops. Aim for a thickness of between 1½ inches to 2 inches. This is because thicker chops will get a beautiful char on all sides, whereas thin pork chops will cook too quickly and never get that nice char.

If you are using boneless pork chops, opt for a thickness of about 1 inch. You can still achieve a good char on these chops, but they will cook faster, so keep an eye on them.

How do you prepare the pork chops?

To prepare pork chops in an air fryer, you can either marinate them or season them.

Marinade

If you're marinating your pork chops, you'll want to start by patting them dry with paper towels. Then, add them to a marinade of olive oil, coconut aminos (or soy sauce or tamari), lemon juice, Dijon mustard, pressed garlic cloves, and salt and pepper. Leave the pork chops to marinate for 1-12 hours (but not longer).

Seasoning

If you're seasoning your pork chops, you can use a blend of garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, sea salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Alternatively, you can keep it simple with just salt and pepper.

Cooking

Once your pork chops are marinated or seasoned, place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they're not overcrowded. Preheat your air fryer to between 375-400°F and cook for around 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your pork chops and whether they're bone-in or boneless, so it's best to use an instant-read food thermometer to check that they're cooked through. The ideal internal temperature is 145°F, but it will rise a few degrees while the meat rests.

Once your pork chops are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.

What temperature and how long do you cook them for?

The cooking temperature and time for pork chops in an air fryer will depend on the thickness of the meat and whether the chops are boneless or bone-in.

For boneless pork chops, a temperature of 375°F to 400°F is recommended. Thinner chops of about 1" thickness will take around 9-12 minutes to cook, while thicker chops of 1 ½ – 2 inches are likely to take around 12-14 minutes.

Bone-in pork chops will take a little longer to cook than boneless chops. A temperature of 380°F is recommended, and chops of about 1" thickness will take around 10 minutes. Thicker bone-in chops may take up to 17 minutes.

It is important to ensure that pork chops are cooked thoroughly. The USDA guideline for food safety states that pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F. An instant-read food thermometer can be used to check this.

How do you know when they are done?

To check if your pork chops are done, you can use an instant-read food thermometer to check the internal temperature. The ideal internal temperature for pork chops is 145°F, but the temperature will continue to rise a few degrees while the meat rests. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the pork chops from the air fryer when the temperature reaches 140-143°F. If you do not have a thermometer, you can also check if the pork chops are cooked by cutting into them and ensuring that the meat is no longer pink.

The cooking time for pork chops in an air fryer will depend on the thickness of the meat and whether they are bone-in or boneless. Boneless pork chops will typically take 12-14 minutes to cook in an air fryer, while bone-in pork chops may take 1-2 minutes longer. It is important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the model of your air fryer, so it is always a good idea to check the manufacturer's instructions.

Additionally, it is important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket when cooking pork chops. If your air fryer is small, you may need to cook the pork chops in batches to ensure even cooking.

What can you serve with them?

There are many options for what to serve with air fryer pork chops. Here are some ideas:

Vegetables

• Roasted Brussels sprouts
• Sautéed spinach
• Easy skillet kale with lemon and garlic
• Lemon-ginger spinach
• Fennel, carrot, and leek gratin
• Garlic broccolini
• Lemon-pepper asparagus
• Crispy Brussels sprouts with balsamic and honey
• Roasted broccoli and cauliflower
• Smashed carrot salad
• Shaved cucumber and fennel salad with olives and feta
• Air fryer asparagus

Salad

• Arugula, beets, and goat cheese salad
• Apple walnut salad
• Quick and easy roasted vegetable salad
• Raw and roasted radicchio salad with sweet potato, Manchego, and crunchy seeds
• Wedge salad

Potatoes

• "Restaurant" potatoes with frizzled onions
• Parmesan pesto roasted potatoes
• Crispy air fryer baked potatoes
• Garlic butter potatoes
• Crash hot potatoes
• Garlicky Parmesan sweet potatoes
• Sour cream balsamic sweet potatoes
• Butter-roasted sweet potatoes

Rice and Pasta

• Portuguese-style mint rice
• Easy buttery garlic rice
• Creamy spinach Parmesan orzo
• One-pot smoked almond and herb couscous
• Barley flecked with sage
• Creamy Parmesan polenta

Other

• Steamed carrots with hot honey butter
• Cauliflower pizza crust
• Mediterranean chickpea salad
• Butternut squash noodles
• Cheesy cauliflower bread
• Steamed green beans
• Steamed carrots
• Simple side salad

Frequently asked questions